DENVILLE — Officials are warning residents that rabies cases are on the rise in town.

“In the past 3 and a half weeks I have taken out 10 raccoons that tested positive for rabies,” said animal control officer Meredith Petrillo.

“Some might seem docile or you might have a very nasty raccoon like we had last week that went after a man walking his dog and it went after a police officer,” said Petrillo.

The man and his dog were walking in the Rock Ridge section of the town when they encountered the rabid raccoon Petrillo said. "The dog got a booster on his rabies shot and I believe the man started rabies shots also,” she said.

Petrillo and police responded to the scene and the raccoon ran toward the officer.

Petrillo said it was clear that the animal was rabid and she told the officer to shoot it. All of the 10 raccoons were out during daylight hours, just one of the warning sign the animal is sick.

Family pets should be immunized for rabies and residents should not approach wildlife. Rabies can be transmitted by bites, scratches, or by contaminated saliva. Skunks, foxes, woodchucks, bats, and stray animals are also common of the virus.

Residents can protect their homes by taking down bird feeders and bringing in pet food that attracts animals. Keep garbage inaccessible to wildlife using tight-fitting garbage can lids. Keep garbage indoors until collection day.

Don’t allow pets to come in contact with wild animals and report all injuries and bites to animal control officer and the Health Department. Residents who have pets that have been left outside unsupervised should seek veterinary attention for any new injuries.

Residents are asked to report sick or injured animals to the Denville Township Police Department at 973-627-4900, ext. 9.